Free Pattern Friday – Magma Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing large half-circle tri-color shawl knitted in Universal Yarn Amphora

Today, the Magma Shawl in Amphora (pattern link here).

Designer Rachel Brockman pulls out all the stops for today’s pattern!

The theme here is magma, and nature lover Rachel takes it to its fullest extent. The stripes at the top represent bands of igneous rock pushed up by the force from beneath…

…while the lace below represents the flow of semi-solid lava.

The fuzzy fiber blend in Amphora ensures that this shawl will keep you warm – but not lava-hot!

Best, since the shawl is based on the garter stitch, it’s aesthetically reversible and pleasing on both sides. A big, beautiful winner of a design!

We hope you have a dynamite weekend.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Pinnacle

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing dark blue, sea green, and lavender knitted slouchy cap.

Today, Pinnacle in Angora Lace (pattern link here).

Pinnacle is a lightweight slouchy topper with beautiful colorwork. Here’s a little peek at the inside.

Although it’s a three-color design, you’re never working with more than two colors at the same time.

This hat has a lovely haze, courtesy of the angora content in Angora Lace. It softens the design without letting any detail be lost. Beautiful.

Each color repeat points upward, eventually coming together at the crown and creating a star motif.

The color repeats are easy to memorize and addictive to knit – it may be worked at a fine gauge, but we’re sure you’ll knit it up in no time at all!

Have a great weekend. Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Weightless Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

woman wearing pale pink and grey pullover knit in Universal Yarn Revolutions

Today, the Weightless Pullover in Revolutions (pattern link here).

Revolutions

This design was inspired by the silhouette of two of my favorite ready-to-wear tops. Both have enjoyed many years in my wardrobe and shall enjoy many more to come. I just love cozy, boxy tops. The Weightless Pullover ticks off all of the right boxes for me (box pun intended).

Knit in Revolutions, this sweater is so warm and has the loveliest halo that’s perfect for staying cozy during one of the coldest months of the year. It’s also feather-light. Seriously – the sample weighs just under 200 grams!

Universal Yarn Revolutions

This will be a really quick, soothing project, but you’ll have left-over yarn in the end. You’ll need to manipulate the self-shading yarn a bit. Revolutions features slow color shifts that allow you to concentrate on knitting. However, to ensure your project looks as close to the sample as possible when breaking and rejoining yarn, be sure to visually match the point at which you’re rejoining. This may require you to wind off some yarn. The results are worth it – don’t you agree?

Universal Yarn Revolutions

Feeling unsure what to do about your left-over yarn? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Depending on how much yarn you have remaining, you could whip out another project! Grab your crochet hook and make a Beyond the Sea Cowl. Prefer knitting needles? Reduce the number of horizontal repeats and you could easily create a scarf from the Warmth Stole.

Stay warm friends. We hope you have a craft-filled weekend!

Free Pattern Friday – Willowwork Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

A tan and gray Fair Isle knitted cowl against a brown background.

Today, the Willowwork Cowl in Deluxe Worsted Superwash (pattern link here).

The inspiration for this piece was the living willow fences, or hedges, or “fedges” that are woven from supple saplings into elegant shapes in the garden.

Photo of diamond lattice bent willow hedge
Photo of bentwood willow fence hiding clothesline.
Woven willow fence.

Mind you, it’s still winter, so the Deluxe Worsted Superwash colors we chose reflect a dormant living fence, while still keeping a warm wood feel.

Tan and gray stranded fabric knit in Deluxe Worsted Superwash
Oh, the magic of Fair Isle.

If you were one of those admiring Amy Gunderson’s Twisted Yoke Pullover from the Fall ’18 Vogue Knitting…

Here’s the Ravelry link.

…you’ll be pleased to find this uses the same technique. Twisted stitches create a depth that (pardon the expression) raises the design to the next level.

Amy has written this pattern in two sizes – the small size shown here…

…and a larger size suitable for wrapping.

We hope this graceful design hits its mark.

Read more about willow artist “Anna and the Willow” here.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Sequoia

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Thick green cabled pullover knit in Deluxe Bulky Superwash yarn

Today, Sequoia in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link here).

Looking at this pullover, it’s easy to see where it gets its name.

Huge cables rise dramatically up the front, carried up through the collar. It’s big, and cozy, and just the thing for midwinter.

The raglan-sleeved sweater is knit hem-up in pieces and seamed, with the cowl neck added in the round afterward. Deluxe Bulky Superwash wool makes the piece easy to care for.

Universal will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the holidays, and this might be the project that I grab some yarn for during the extended break. Cozy!

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy crafting!

Holiday Crafting – Don’t Panic!

How’s everybody doing? All caught up on your handmade gifts?

There are two kinds of crafters.

If you are, then good for you! If you’re not… join the club! Fortunately, there are still some quick, good-looking projects that you (and I) can make at the last minute. And if you still can’t quite finish, well… we have some options at the end of this post.

When I’m in a pinch, I go big! Take a look at the Coffee Beans and Sugar Cubes hats.

Coffee Beans and Sugarcubes hats in Uptown Super Bulky

What I like about them:

  1. Knit in Uptown Super Bulky on size 11 needles, they go really fast.
  2. They’re designed to take one ball each of two colors – and you can get two hats out of those two skeins!
  3. Did I mention they were really fast?

I’ve made more than a few of these, and they’ve always been popular. My most recent set were super bright for two friends, who loved them.

lime and aqua knitted caps
Two hats with the leftovers from two skeins.

These are also available as a kit from your LYS.

Are you a crocheter? How about the Racing Cowl?

This takes just one skein of self-striping Uptown Super Bulky Amplify on a size N-15 (10mm) hook.

striped crochet cowl in Uptown Super Bulky Amplify yarn
Just half double crochet all the way around. Easy peasy.

If you want to knit something bulky but not super-bulky, try the Latta Park Hat and Mittens from e-book Colorful Commute.

I made one of these myself, and it was fun and easy. The Classic Shades Frenzy is a smart choice because it lends visual interest without extra work – always a consideration when you’re on a deadline.

I actually wound up keeping this one.

As a little holiday gift, we’re running a giveaway of the Latta Park Hat and Mittens. (Also, consider signing up for our newsletter. Subscribers already heard about this!)

You can enter this coupon code by going to the Latta Park Hat and Mittens page on Ravelry, and entering FRENZY at the “use a coupon code” link that appears during purchase. Use it by 12/23.

Finally, if you’re just not gonna make it, we still have some options. How about a card to let your giftee know that their gift is on the way? We made a few printable options for you.

Regardless of how your holiday gifting turns out, we hope you’ll be able to make time to slow down and enjoy the season as best you can.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Magical Mystery Throw

Image of brightly colored throw knitted in Uptown DK Colors

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

colorful striped square knitted throw draped over chair

Today the Magical Mystery Throw in Uptown DK Colors (pattern link).

We designed this throw to show off one of our three new colors in Uptown DK Colors, a soft, cottony anti-pilling acrylic.

Uptown DK Colors #70322 Tropical

The stripes that work up so evenly in a fixed-width piece do some amazing things when the rows start to grow, as in this center-out throw.

The longer the row, the narrower the band of color.

Until by the end, you’ll end up with multiple colors per row.  Such a great effect!  Of course, you could go with a less varied palette…

Uptown DK Colors #70320 Sapphire Road

….or really pull out all the stops with a rainbow-themed throw to display with pride.

Uptown DK Colors #70321 Rainbowz

No matter what you choose, it’s great fun to see the design emerge as you knit this kaleidoscope of color.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

Image of folded tropical-colored afghan knit in Uptown DK Colors.

Free Pattern Friday – Checkerboard Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Checkerboard Pullover in Dona (pattern link here).

Things to love about this pullover:

It’s sized from 3-6 months all the way up to 10 years. Whether your little one is “ooh, look at the tiny toes!” or “I can’t believe they’re growing up so fast!” you can still make them a fun sweater.

The stranding is very predictable. If you like to do Fair Isle without having to constantly refer back to the pattern, you’re set. Put on an episode of This Is Us and knit away without missing the juicy bits.

It would be really easy to customize. Fibra Natura Dona has a range of bold colors, both dark and light.  Blue and white for a gingham look? Red and black for a classic checkerboard? Team colors for the little fan? There are a lot of possibilities!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Contours Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Rozetti Yarns Alaska

Today, the Contours Cowl in Alaska (pattern link here).

Rozetti Yarns Alaska

The Contours Cowl features lofty, all-over cables. If you thought cables make for a dense fabric, think again – Alaska is featherweight and soft as down, countering the density you might expect from the usual cabled cowl. It’s perfect to loop around your neck once or twice – and each styling option will keep you warm and cozy.

Rozetti Yarns Alaska

Knit seamlessly from the bottom-up, this cowl features an easily memorizable cable and slip stitch pattern on a background of reverse stockinette.

Rozetti Yarns Alaska

We hope you enjoy this week’s free pattern! Have a wonderful, craft-filled weekend!

Day 12 of Winter – Series 2 Edition

This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 2 Edition.

Day 12 – can you believe it? Today we reveal the final installment of the Universal Yarn 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections – Series 2! Say hello to the Solstice Shawl.

Deluxe DK Tweed

Can I be honest? I am really proud of this design – in my opinion, it’s one of my best designs and I sincerely hope you love it.

This isn’t a very complicated design, but what I feel proud of is the balance of simplicity and intricacy in the piece. This shawl combines cables, stripes, and intarsia. It is worked from tip to tip, starting and finishing with the same number of stitches (just two!). Finally, it’s finished with a very simple contrast color border.

Part of what makes this project special is the yarn used: Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash. I love this yarn. It’s rustic and the tweedy nubs add interest to every type of pattern – from simple garter to cables, lace, and stranded colorwork. (If you need convincing, just take a look at the recent collection in this yarn, Rustic & Refined).

I’m keeping this post short and sweet, but before I sign off, thank you’s are in order! Like last year we had a really wonderful time putting this collection together. It is a team effort, for sure. So thanks to everyone on our team for putting in so much hard work! And thank you so much for supporting our company, your local yarn shops, and for following our posts for this collection. We appreciate it so much!

Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kit patterns on Ravelry.